Weather Pattern Changing to Clippers in Early November

In the Midwest, a front moved into western areas on Tuesday and brought some areas of heavy rain. The associated system moved around the southern and then eastern Midwest for Wednesday and Thursday, bringing some heavy rain to the Ohio Valley. Drought in this area has been eliminated, but it is growing from parts of Missouri to northwestern Ohio. Isolated showers are looking more likely into next week, but may come at a high frequency with several fast-moving clippers moving through the country.

In the Northern Plains, a system exited early this week but brought some areas of heavier rain to North Dakota. A small clipper moving through the Canadian Prairies is also bringing some isolated showers on Thursday and Friday. Several clippers will move through the region for early November, but with very limited precipitation expected.

In the Central and Southern Plains, heavy rain again moved through parts of the region this week as a front moved through and a low-pressure center developed along it. When combined with the weekend activity, rain has helped to reduce drought across the region again and soil moisture is relatively high in many areas. The region will be drying out though as the weather pattern promotes more clippers moving through next week.

In the Delta, heavy rain again moved through the region earlier this week, helping to reduce drought and boost water levels on the Mississippi River. With increased rainfall in the Ohio Valley too, we should see rises for early November. However, the region will be turning drier for November, making the boost on the River a relatively short-lived one. Some isolated showers may still be possible on Sunday and Monday, but amounts should be light.

In the Southeast, a system moved through with some heavier rain over northern areas this week, which has helped to reduce drought in these areas. Southern areas saw much lighter precipitation and drought is much deeper here. Some showers will develop on Sunday, and may stick around into early next week. Models are unsure, but amounts are likely to be light and spotty. The region should be drying out again as the weather pattern changes to support more clipper systems across the north.

In the Western U.S., the storm track has been across the north this week with periods of showers for the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies at various times. That pattern will generally be maintained through the first half of November, which should help with the drought situation in the north. However, dryness in the south is building momentum again for increasing drought, a potential sign of La Nina developing in the Pacific.

John Baranick can be reached at john.baranick@dtn.com